Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1887-12-17
WELCOMING HOME RULERS.
Esmonde and O'COnn0r Given q Recep.
ton at Washington.
A Distinguished Audience Assembled to
Greet Them.
ingalls, Recalls England's Equivocal
Course During the Rebellion.
ireland Has Twice the Population OF
the Thirteen Colonies.
O,Connor Speaks Eloquently OF Ire
lands Centuries of Misrule.

WASHINGTON, December IA. Sir
Thomas Henry Grattan Esmonde
and Hon, Arthur O'Connor, leaders
81 the Irish Home Rule cause in the
English Parliament. arrived in the city this
afternoon and were rendered a reception at
the Masonic Temple by the Irish societies
OF the city.
sHERMAN's SPEECH.
When the distinguished guests arrived at
the Temple they were escorted TO seats on
platforms where a large number OF Sena-
tors and Representatives were present to
do them honor. Senator Sherman was
chosen chairman. He a greeted with
loud applause and in acknowledging the
compliment said he believed he spoke the
general voice of the people in every part OF
the union, when he said to the distinguished
guests the sympathy ofAmerica went forth
fully and heartily in a strong desire that
thew might nave home rulein Ireland to the
fall extent demanded by Parne|l and Glad.
stone. He wanted Ireland TO possess the
same rights as those enjoyed by the people
OF the United States. Why was it the Brit
isb Government denied to the gem OF the
British Empire what was conferred on all
the colonies of this great empire? Irish
men had led in advance in all the great
battles which England had fought Tor two
centuries. Irland had furnished the De-
mosthenes and Ciceros OF modern times
Ireland had produced great men in every
branch of life. He hoped the pleading voice
of Gladstone, the greateststatesman OF the
age, would induce the British Parliament
to grant home rule.
A INGALLS,
after the applause with which he was
greeted had subsidized, said two illustrious
Irish members of the British Parliament
have crossed the ocean to tell the story OF
the wrongs of Ireland. They are here for
the purpose OF ascertaining the sentiments
Of the American people upon this great
question, which is now occupying the at
tention of men all over the civilized world.
We have assembled this evening for the
purpose OF saying that the cause OF Ire
( land is the cause OF America and the cause
Of humanity itself. If we are called upOnt to
choose between expressing our sympathies
for Great Britain or for Ireland in this
contest, no American citizen will long hest
| tate as to what his preference shall be
| Great Britain should not forget that sever
millions of people determined to be free
can never be enslaved. Great Britain
| should not forget hat three millions O.
people in the original thirteen colonies re
VOTED and
ACHIEVED INDEPENDENCE
under far less provocation than seven mill
ions OF Irish people have endured for cen
turtles. He did not desire to intrude upor
the comfy OF nations, but he could not for
get hat n brutal and degraded British
soldiery within the memory OF men who
might be o within hearing of his voice
had sacked this capital. He could not forge
that in every great crisis OF American his
tory we AVE had % contend with the i'll viii
and m~alevolence OF the governing classes o
Great Britain. That she consorted with thu
South and e~quivocated with the North ant
continued everything short OF actual hos
tility TO secure the downfall of the Ameri
can Union. During that awful period Their
was not a battlefield for American liberty
which was not illustrated by Irish valoI
and consecrated by Irish blood. He the1
introduced
SIR RTHuR o'CoNNoR,
who was received with cheers, said he wal
sensible OF the greatness and sacredness 0
| the cause which he had the honor to repre-
sent. Here in Washington, the headquar
ters of freedom, the capital OF the grandest
and freest community the world had evel
seen, no cause which was not just could
call for such a distinguished audience
Ireland was attempting by force Of organ
lied public opinion, by constitutional anC
| peaceful means to secure the repeal, not
| OF law, but of a conquest. 1t was at
tempting to repeal the conquest Of Ire
land. Mr.. O'Connor spoke eioquently o
the wrong endured by Ireland during TOO
years OF English rule since hat conquest
| and proceeded to give a picture OF the
i oppression and hardship to which thu
Irish people were compelled to bow. H.
detailed the demands which the Home
Rule party made upon the English Gov.
eminent. They had come here to thank
America for her past aid and to ask fol
its continuance until the crisis, now i'm
pending, is passed.
Senator Hawley, the next speaker, said the
speech OF Mr.. O'Connor was a statement
OF a terrible fact, "a terrible arraignment. HUI
manity everywhere would say that he had
stated wrongswhich must be remedied. HI
joined very gladly in the welcome to these
distinguished representatives of the Liberal
party OF the Great British Empire.
RESOLUTIONS
were unanimously adopted extending
hearty greeting to Messrs. Esmonde and
OConnor, protesting in the name of hui.
manity against the Tory policy toward
Ireland, being subversive OF liberty, oil
right, OF justice; declaring that the people
OF Ireland may well arraign their oppres.
sors before the civilized world-in the
words OF Thomas Jefferson: ''You have
destroyed the lives OF our people with cir
cumstance OF cruelty aud per1dy scarcely
paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and
totally unworthy a civilized nation, lex.
pressing admiration for Parnell and the
Irish Parliamentary party, thanking Glad